The Rio de Janeiro self-guided walking tours (including areas and districts such as Copacabana, Ipanema and Santa Teresa) described in My Rio Travel Guide maps have been carefully crafted with several purposes in mind:
1. To expose you to the bustling shopping streets of Rio de Janeiro as well as to hidden, calm, side streets in areas that feel tourists get to explore (because can not be found on the standard tourist district maps).
2. To get you to come across to a popular fruits, vegetables, fishes and spices open-air market. (Livelier close to 1 p.m. when many vendors start yelling their price reduction right before the end of the market.)
3. To end the walking tour at a popular restaurant/café/bar where you can take your time and chill out.
Note that since shops are closed on Saturdays afternoons, Sundays and holidays, these strolls are better taken off these times/days.
The walking tours safety rating indicated on the maps are a creation of the author of this My Rio Travel Guidebook, based on his walking experience and knowledge of Rio de Janeiro, not representing by any means any official rating by local authorities.
End of Copacabana walking tour in Rio de Janeiro
Highlights of each walking tour – Get a copy of My Rio Travel Guide to access full-size map of each district
Leme –
The highlight of Leme walking tour is to chill out and enjoy the views from the very last beach café, and then have lunch or appetizer at the award-winning Bar do David, at the entrance of the 100% safe favela Chapéu Mangueira.
Copacabana –
End this walking tour at Copacabana Fort, preferably at Colombo Café. However, this café is very busy on weekends and holidays. To increase your chances of getting the tables overlooking Copacabana, arrive there at opening at 10:00 a.m., or off eating hours on weekdays. Another good option is Café 18 do Forte, a few steps away, serves excellent Brazilian premium beer Colorado. (This part of Copacabana is actually on the Ipanema map in My Rio Travel Guide e-book.)
Note: throughout the My Rio Travel Guidebook you will you notice that many recommendations on Copacabana are located in the Copacabana side of the Ipanema map. In other words, most of Copacabana is on the Copacabana map, but a segment of it is on the Ipanema map (it will be mentioned in the book whenever the location is on the Ipanema map).
Ipanema –
Finish the Ipanema walking tour at “End 3” at Pedra do Arpoador, slightly before sunset. It is the second most popular sunset in Rio de Janeiro; Sugar Loaf is the first. After or before sunset you can sit at one of the beach cafés nearby; Azul Marinho, the one near Rua Francisco Otaviano, is also an excellent restaurant (see map).
Finish your Ipanema stroll at “End 1” if you don’t want to walk much; “End 2” if you want to finish at the trendy beach spot on Ipanema.
Leblon –
Complete the Leblon walking tour at “End 1” if you want to have a nice meal and try the exotic caipirinhas at Academia da Cachaça; “End 2” if you want to have a drink viewing the beach; “End 3” if you want to walk more time.
Botanical Garden –
The highlight of the Botanical Garden neighborhood is to visit the garden, hence the Botanical Garden map.
Urca –
The highlights are Urca walking tour are: 1) Praia Vermelha (Red Beach) on weekdays, 2) a stroll at Pista Cláudio Coutinho, and 3) a pastel (a typical appetizer) and a drink in the end of the afternoons at Bar Urca, especially Fri-Sun and holidays where the area is full of locals.
CENTRO (DOWNTOWN) –
1) Drink and/or eat in one of the open-air cafés (#61-65 on Centro map) in the old Rio area, or 2) Eat at the second floor of Colombo Café listening to live piano.
Beware that Centro is deserted on weekends and holidays; visiting it on those days on foot is not recommended. Walking around Lapa, the neighborhood next to Centro, is not recommended any time.
Santa Teresa –
1) A visit to Chácara do Céu and Parque das Ruínas, which are interconnected by a catwalk, 2) a drink and an appetizer at Armazém São Thiago, and 3) having lunch at Bar do Mineiro (preferably on weekends and holidays when you put your name on the waiting list and join locals drinking outside the restaurant). The walking tour of Santa Teresa is one of tourist’s favorite strolls in Rio de Janeiro.
Colonial buildings seen during walking tour of Santa Teresa Neighborhood in Rio.
